Text message sender location and PSAP determination systems and methods

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

• determining a current location of a portable computing device;
• receiving from a particular individual, via a user interface of a portable computing device, a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication, the emergency electronic communication requesting emergency assistance;
• and
• at least partially in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;
• determining which particular one of a plurality of public-safety answering points will handle the emergency electronic communication;
• updating a data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that the particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency electronic communication will access to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance;
• and
• initiating an emergency electronic communication, by the portable computing device, to the public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the particular individual, wherein the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises:
• receiving a first current location for the individual, as determined via triangulation techniques;
• receiving a second current location for the individual, the second current location having been input into the mobile computing device by the user as part of the request to initiate the emergency electronic communication;
• and
• determining to use the second current location as the individual's current location based on a set of rules that specifies that location information provided by the particular individual will be used over location information determined by triangulation techniques.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

• determining a current location of a portable computing device;
• receiving from a particular individual, via a user interface of a portable computing device, a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication, the emergency electronic communication requesting emergency assistance;
• and
• at least partially in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;
• determining which particular one of a plurality of public-safety answering points will handle the emergency electronic communication;
• updating a data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that the particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency electronic communication will access to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance;
• and
• initiating an emergency electronic communication, by the portable computing device, to the public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the particular individual, wherein the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises:
• receiving a first current location for the individual, as determined via triangulation techniques;
• receiving a second current location for the individual, the second current location having been determined based on one or more MAC addresses associated with a computing device with which the portable computing device is currently in communication;
• and
• determining to use the second current location as the individual's current location based on a set of rules that specifies that location information associated with the one or more MAC addresses will be used over location information determined by triangulation techniques.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

• determining a current location of a portable computing device;
• receiving from a particular individual, via a user interface of a portable computing device, a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication, the emergency electronic communication requesting emergency assistance;
• and
• at least partially in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;
• determining which particular one of a plurality of public-safety answering points will handle the emergency electronic communication;
• updating a data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that the particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency electronic communication will access to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance;
• and
• initiating an emergency electronic communication, by the portable computing device, to the public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the particular individual, wherein:
• the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for receiving information regarding a probable location of the particular individual when the portable computing device's location satisfies one or more criteria;
• and
• the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises:
• receiving information regarding an approximate location of the portable computing device;
• determining whether the portable computing device's approximate location satisfies the one or more criteria;
• and
• at least partially in response to determining that the portable computing device's approximate location satisfies the one or more criteria, updating the data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the probable location.

A system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:
• determining a current location of a portable computing device of a particular individual;
• using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;
• using the determined dispatchable location to determine which particular one of a plurality of public-safety answering points will handle an emergency electronic communication;
• receiving a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication requesting help for the particular individual;
• and
• at least partially in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• updating a data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the determined dispatchable location, the data structure being a data structure that the determined particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency electronic communication will access to determine location information for individuals who contact the particular public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance;
• and
• initiating an emergency electronic communication, by the portable computing device, to the particular public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the particular individual, wherein the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises:
• receiving a first current location for the individual, as determined via triangulation techniques;
• receiving a second current location for the individual, the second current location having been input into the mobile computing device by the user as part of the request to initiate the emergency text;
• and
• determining to use the second current location as the individual's current location based on a set of rules that specifies that location information provided by the particular individual will be used over location information determined by triangulation techniques.

A system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:
• determining a current location of a portable computing device of a particular individual;
• using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;
• using the determined dispatchable location to determine which particular one of a plurality of public-safety answering points will handle an emergency electronic communication;
• receiving a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication requesting help for the particular individual;
• and
• at least partially in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• updating a data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the determined dispatchable location, the data structure being a data structure that the determined particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency electronic communication will access to determine location information for individuals who contact the particular public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance;
• and
• initiating an emergency electronic communication, by the portable computing device, to the particular public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the particular individual, wherein the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises:
• receiving a first current location for the individual, as determined via triangulation techniques;
• receiving a second current location for the individual, the second current location having been determined based on a MAC address associated with a computing device with which the portable computing device is currently in communication;
• and
• determining to use the second current location as the individual's current location based on a set of rules that specifies that location information associated with a MAC address will be used over location information determined by triangulation techniques.

A system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:
• determining a current location of a portable computing device of a particular individual;
• using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;
• using the determined dispatchable location to determine which particular one of a plurality of public-safety answering points will handle an emergency electronic communication;
• receiving a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication requesting help for the particular individual;
• and
• at least partially in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• updating a data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the determined dispatchable location, the data structure being a data structure that the determined particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency electronic communication will access to determine location information for individuals who contact the particular public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance;
• and
• initiating an emergency electronic communication, by the portable computing device, to the particular public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the particular individual, wherein:
• the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for receiving information regarding a probable location of the particular individual when the portable computing device's location satisfies one or more criteria;
• the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises:
• receiving information regarding an approximate location of the portable computing device;
• determining whether the portable computing device's approximate location satisfies the one or more criteria;
• and
• at least partially in response to determining that the portable computing device's approximate location satisfies the one or more criteria, updating the data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the probable location.

A computer-implemented method of initiating an emergency electronic communication to an emergency services provider for an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing, to the emergency services provider, an accurate dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the method comprising:

• using one or more computing devices to continuously monitor a location of the individual's portable computing device;
• receiving a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication;
• and
• in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• (A) updating a particular data structure with a current dispatchable location for the individual, as determined by the one or more computing devices that are continuously monitoring the location of the individual's portable computing device, the particular data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point, that will be handling the emergency electronic communication, accesses to determine location information for one or more individuals who are in need of emergency assistance;
• and
• (B) initiating an emergency electronic communication to the public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the individual, wherein:
• the method further comprises, before updating the particular data structure with the current dispatchable location for the individual, using the current dispatchable location for the individual to determine that the particular public-safety answering point will be handling the emergency electronic communication, and
• the step of using one or more computing devices to continuously monitor the location of the individual's portable computing device comprises:
• storing, in computer memory, first information regarding a first probable location of the individual when a location of the individual's portable computing device satisfies a first set of one or more criteria;
• storing, in computer memory, second information regarding a second probable location of the individual when a location of the individual's portable computing device satisfies a second set of one or more criteria;
• receiving information, at a first time, regarding a first current approximate location of the individual's portable computing device;
• determining that the first current approximate location of the individual's portable computing device satisfies the first set of one or more criteria;
• at least partially in response to determining that the first current approximate location of the individual's portable computing device satisfies the first set of one or more criteria, updating a geolocation cache database to indicate that the individual's portable computing device is at the first probable location;
• and
• after the step of updating the geolocation cache database to indicate that the individual's portable computing device is at the first probable location and after the individual's portable computing device moves from a first location to a second location:
• receiving information, at a second time, regarding a second current approximate location of the individual's portable computing device;
• determining that the second current approximate location of the individual's portable computing device satisfies the second set of one or more criteria;
• and
• at least partially in response to determining that the second current approximate location of the individual's portable computing device satisfies the second set of one or more criteria, updating the geolocation cache database to indicate that the individual's portable computing device is at the second probable location;
• wherein:
• the step of updating the particular data structure comprises, after updating the geolocation cache database to indicate that the individual's portable computing device is at the second probable location and while the individual is at the second location, updating the particular data structure to indicate that the individual's portable computing device is at the second location.

A computer-implemented method of initiating an emergency electronic communication to an emergency services provider for an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing, to the emergency services provider, an accurate dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the method comprising:

• using one or more computing devices to continuously monitor a location of the individual's portable computing device;
• receiving a request to initiate an emergency electronic communication;
• and
• in response to receiving the request to initiate an emergency electronic communication:
• (A) updating a particular data structure with a current dispatchable location for the individual, as determined by the one or more computing devices that are continuously monitoring the location of the individual's portable computing device, the particular data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point, that will be handling the emergency electronic communication, accesses to determine location information for one or more individuals who are in need of emergency assistance;
• and
• (B) initiating an emergency electronic communication to the public-safety answering point, regarding an emergency involving the individual, wherein:
• the method further comprises, before updating the particular data structure with the current dispatchable location for the individual, using the current dispatchable location for the individual to determine that the particular public-safety answering point will be handling the emergency electronic communication;
• the step of using one or more computing devices to continuously monitor a location of an individual's portable computing device comprises continuously using information from a plurality of different sources to determine the location of the individual's portable computing device;
• and
• the step of using one or more computing devices to continuously monitor a location of an individual's portable computing device comprises continuously:
• using information from a plurality of different sources to determine a plurality of potential current locations of the individual's portable computing device;
• and
• determining which of the plurality of potential current locations is the individual's probable current location.